Telkom Mobile Pro-rata charges

Good day,

On the 31ste of July 2019 I visited Telkom Mobile in Tygervalley Centre, to get more information on a Cellphone upgrade that I was due for.

A gentleman Mr De Buys, assisted me and was quite friendly and helpful. I explained to him that I am here to obtain more information regarding a combo deal with the Huawei P30 + Huawei P Smart phone for R499. I wasn't sure about additional cost and if they had stock. I told Mr De Buys, that I was planning on taking this contract on Saturday 3 August 2019. He advise my, that I can do the upgrade immediately. I explained to him that I don't have any documentation with me (proof of address, bank statement ext.) He told me that they advise people to take out contracts on the last day of the month, because it is the best day to take out contracts ext. I then agreed to take out the upgrade and during the time I spent there, which was about an hour plus, as there was a problem with the system picking up the combo deal, I specifically asked Mr. de Buys 2 or three time, "Am I not going to be billed double the contract amount of R549 because I am taking it out on the last day of the month?" Every time, his answer was, No, you will only be billed pro-rate for the day! Now look, this is a blatant lie. As I was billed R399 for the device from 1 July to 31 July 2019. Even though I only received the device at about 14:00 on the 31ste of July 2019. The sales agents know this. They know you will be billed for the full amount for the device and only pro-rata charged for the data part of the contract, in my case R150 monthly. This is NOT ON! I now know why I was bamboozled into taking out the contract on the last day of the month, so that they can score an additional months device payment. I phoned this morning and the lady who answer the phone, tried to explain the pro-rata payment this to me. Actually I know very well how pro-rata payments work, WHEN I am given the correct information. Mr de Buys should have explained to me that the pro-rata payment will only be for the Data part of the contract and not for the device. In that case I could have made the SMART choice of taking out the contract on the planned date of 3 August. I now have to pay an additional R400 on top of my contract amount, which I don't have. I have not even got a fair chance to decide on this as I was ******* into taking the contract on the last day, while the sales person knew what was going to happen. While standing at the store waiting, I have heard the other sales agents, telling everyone that came in their, the exact same story. No one mentions the devices charges that will be billed for the full amount. YOU ***** CONSUMERS OUT OF THEIR MONEY!!! I will also take this up with the Consumers Council.